Joseph du bois



(Nb Model.)

J. DU. BOIS.

FENCE.

No. 331,285.; Patented Dec. 1, 1885..

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- lihvrrnb arnnr rrrca JOSEPH DU BOIS, OF WAVERLY, NEW YORK.

FENCE.

SPEUIFICATIUN forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,285, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed June 24, 1885. Serial No. 169,643. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn DU Bors, a citi zen of the United States, residing at the village of Waverly, in the county of Tioga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to portable anch orfences, and is designed as an improvement upon the fence granted to me in Letters Patent No. 305,682, September 23, 1884.

It consists in means for protecting the bottoms of the posts from fire and for anchoring the same securely to the ground.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a panel of my fence in place. Fig. 2 is a section of one of the posts, showing my improved anchoring means to be employed in prairies or localities where stone is unobtainable. Fig. 3 is also a section of a post designed for localities where stones are employed for anchoring means.

The object of the invention is to more securely guard against injury or damage by fire and to provide a cheaper and simpler means of anchoring, which may be adapted to either prairie countries devoid of stone or employed where stone is plentiful.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the posts are raised above the ground to a sufficient height, as in my former patent, by means of a metallic rod or foot, 13, which is inserted into an opening in the bottom of the post and secured by a pin or key, a, passing through the post and rod. This rod is then extended horizontally along the ground at right angles with the fence for a suificient distance and then turned back and its end inserted horizontallythrough the post and secured, thus forming a triangularshaped foot the base of which rests upon the ground, the hypotenuse forming a diagonal brace for holding the post upright, and the perpendicular side being securely joined to the post. Upon the bottom of the wooden post is secured a metallic plate, 0, corresponding in shape to the post, but of sufficient dimensions to project one or more inches on all sides. This plate is centrally perforated to provide for the passage of the rod into the bottom of the post, and serves to more effectually protect the post from fire and to prevent it splitting or rotting, and thereby becoming worthless. r v

At the outer point of the foot B of the post is welded or secured an upright metallic standard, cl, of any suitable length, as shown 'in Figs. 1 and 3, and provided at its top with an eye, the purpose of which will be presently explained. Two or more metallic rods, E, of suitable length, provided at one end. with an eye or hook, 0, and at their opposite end with a plate, k, are attached to the base of the foot, one at each angle, as shown in Fig. 2. These rods are insertedinto the ground beneath the foot of the post, suitable holes being first provided and the ground afterward firmly tamped down around and upon the plate. As

an additional means of anchoring, stones may be piled upon the base of the foot, and at the outer point, in order to secure additional Weight, a wire is passed through the eye of the standard (I and carried out to a suitable distance on each side of the foot, its ends being provided with plates, or the ends being brought back along the ground toward each other and stones piled thereon, as shown in Fig. 1. A wire may also extend from the eye of standard E around the post and serve as a support for similar transverse wires.

In case this fence is used in a prairie country, where stones cannot be obtained for anchoring purposes, it can be firmly anchored by means of the rods E, having the groundplates 70, and also by means of similar plates placed on the ends of the transverse wire passing over standard (1.

In constructing my fence the posts are first anchored to the ground in the manner already described, at suitable distances apart, and connected by a top rail or girt extending from post to post, the adjacent ends of these rails being seen red on opposite sides of the posts by a bolt passing through the rails and post secured by a nut. Between the ends of the rails and the post are interposed washers, or nails may be driven into the post, leaving the heads projecting sufficiently between the rails and post to leave an air-space, which will prevent the accumulation or retention of moisture and consequent decay of the rails and posts at the point of j unction. The wires are then stretched from post to post and secured by staples or in any other usual manner, and in order to prevent the posts being drawn over and out of their vertical position when stretching the wires I employ, in addition to the top rail or girt, temporary braces from the post to the ground, which are afterward removed when the construction of the fence is completed. I also employ permanent short braces D on either side of the top rail, of suitable length, and secured to the top rail, H, near the post, and extending diagonally downward to the post, where its lower end is secured, as shown in Fig. 1. These braces need only be used on alternate panels, or upon every sixth or tenth panel, and their diagonal or inclined position causes the rain to run offquickly, and thereby prevents their rapid decay from retained moisture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a fence, the combination, with a post raised above the ground by means of an anchoring device, and provided with a baseplate, ofthe detachable feet E, provided with a ground-plate, and hooks for securing the feet to the anchoring device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an anchoring device for fence-posts, the combination, with the rod B, bent and secured to the post, as described, of the detachable feet E, secured to the anchoring-rod at each angle by means of hooked rods, whereby said feet may be detached from the base, and provided at their lower ends with holding plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The anchorrod B, bent and secured to a fence-post as described, and provided with a standard rigidly secured at its outer point or angle, having an eye for the reception of auxiliary anchoring wires, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH DU BOIS.

Witnesses:

G. E. LINDSLEY, H. T. Hnnnrox. 

